Adjustable embalming-table



3 sheets-sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' G. P. GASTON.

ADJUSTABLE EMBALMING TABLE.

No. 322,437. Patented July 21.1885.

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(No Modem G. P. GASTON. ADJUSTABLE BMBALMING TABLE'. No. 322,437',

PatentedJuly 21, 1885.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

G. RGASTON. ADJUSTABLE EMBALMING TABLE.

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N4 PETERS Phnln-Lllholrlph'r, Waihillun, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. GASTON, OF SILVER CREEK, NEV YORK.

ADJUSTABLE EM BALMING-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettera Patent No. 322,437l dated July 21, 1885.

Application filed May 7, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.- j

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. GASTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Silver Oreek, in the county of Chautauqua and State `of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Embalming-Tables; and I do hereby declare the follow by means whereof they are adapted to be adjusted, with a body thereon, to any position in which the operator may desire to place such body during the operation of embalm# ing, without removing it therefrom.

Other objects and features of my improvement are hereinafter set forth, and explained in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my improvements, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved embalming-table and apparatus with a body thereon, illustrating side elevation of my improved embalming-` some features of its operation. Fig. 2 is a table and apparatus. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal vertical section through the center of same, the foot end thereof being lowered and the head-resty turned to one side. Fig. 4 is an ,end view of same, illustrating in dotted lines f the lateral adjustment of the table-top, and

also of feet of the table. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my improved embalmingtable and apparatus when folded up for transportation. Fig. 6 is a sectional end view of the legs or supports of the tableV and the adjusting mechanism thereof. Fig. 7 is a side scction of the same through the center thereof, and also shows my improved adjustable pillow head-rest.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures. l

In the construction of my improved em-A balming-table I make the frame of the top` preferably in two sections,` A A', connected together by hinged joints B, so that the sections A A' may b e folded together, as shown in Fig. 5.

To render the hinged joint B rigid, when desired, I provide straps a a, one end of which swings on the screws a' in the upper edges of thei section A', and the other ends aresecnred to the section A by thumb-screws a2. These straps, however, may, if desired, be altogether omitted in the construction of the frame.

Inside of the frame A A', I secure the sectional top C C. This top may be constructed of woven cane or perforated board, through which the air has access to cool the body; but I construct it, preferably, of perforated sheet metal, so that it can be more readily washed and cleaned when desired. rIo the end of the section A', I secure a socket, D, provided with a set-screw, d, by means whereof I `attach to the table the adjustable head-rest, hereinafter described. Straps b are also provided, either end of which is provided with hooks b', by means whereof they can be attached to the lower edges of the frame A A',l and buckled over a body, as illustrated in Fig. l, thereby securing it upon the table, so as tojadmit of the adj ustment-of the tabletop to any desired i `position without danger of the body falling off of it. These straps b are so arranged that they may be entirely detached and removed from the table when not needed thereon. Th is bolsters G G, having trunnions g g on the ends i thereof, which operate in bearings g' g2 attached to the inner sides of the said framesections A A', and tothe central part of the bolsters G are attached the standards J, by

joints H.hinged so as to admit of lateral movement of the bolsters C upon said standards, and near the ends of said bolsters are attached half-circles I, provided with notches i, for the purpose hereinafter stated and described, thus substantially forming gimbal-joints between the table-top A A and the standards or supports thereof. 'Ihese standards J are arranged 1o move telescopically up and down in the hollow standards E, and are secured at any desired elevation by means of set-screws e,- the half-circles I, moving within the guides K on the outer sides of the hollow standards E, which guides are provided with vertically-sliding stops, which operate in the notchesz in the half-circles I, securely retaining them in any desired position.

In the tubular cross-sections F, on the lower ends of the hollow standards E E, I place cross-bars L,which slide in the tubular crosssections F, and are provided with feetZ Z, one of which, Z, is attached thereto by means of a loose sleeve, Z2,whereby it can be removed and the cross-bar L taken out when desired; and pivoted to the center of the lower ends of the hollow standards E are also swing-arms N, which, when swung around at right angles to the cross-bars L, operate as the other feet for the standards E E. From the construction of these standards or legs, and the connections of the table-top A A thereto, it will readily be seen that they are adapted to be independently adjusted in height, so that either end` of the table may be independently raised or lowered at will, and also that the entire tabletop can be cantcd to one side or the other without regard to the elevation of the ends thereof, and that the adjustable feet thereof adapt them to be moved to one side, so as to support the table with a body thereon in substantially the position shown in Fig. l, with` out danger of the table tipping or of overturning it.

rFhe head-rest O and pillow O are interchangably attachably by sockets o and set-screws o to the standard P, which moves vertically win the socket D, and is secured at any desired elevation by means ofthe set-screw d, so that after the body has been treated the head-rest O 'may be removed and the pillow O substituted therefor. The head-rest O is so constructed that it will receive-the head of the body therein, and is also provided with a iieclrsupport, Q, which fits and supports the neck ofthe body, and, together with the strap Q', attached to the head-rest O, retains the head ofthe body therein, as illustrated in Fig. 1. This head-rest O is attached to the socket o by means of a guide, o2, through which the central rib of the head-rest slides, so that the liead-rest can be turned from side to side, so as to move the head ofthe body into any vposition desired. For example, when it is desired to draw the fluids from the stomach of the body, the rest O may be turned over to one side, so as to hold the head'in the position shown in Fig. 1. Y

From the foregoing description the operation of my improvedadjustable embalmingtable is obvious to those skilled in the art to which it appertains,its construction being such that the operator can place a body to be embalmed thereon, and by adjusting the table with the body secured thereon sustains the body in any position which may be required during any part of the operation of embalming without being obliged to lift and otherwise handle the body, as is now universally done in the embalming of it.

I am aware that in the construction of my device some parts of it in Ythemselves are not new, they having been heretofore used in tables of different kinds; but I believe that I have so combined and arranged the several parts of my improved table that I am enabled to accomplish results therewith not heretofore attained, which are novel and useful in embalming-tables. Therefore I do not broadly claim a table-top hinged in the center, or legs or standards therefor the height of which is adjustable, or mechanism for laterally adjusting the table-top, as certain Letters Patent on tables of different kinds show devices which are adapted to produce these results; but

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

1. In an embalming-table, the combination, substantially as shown, of an adjustable tabletop vertically-adjustable folding legs or standards under each end of said table-top attached thereto by substantially gimbaljoints, and adjustable feet on said legs or standards, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in an embalmingtable, of the following elements: a folding tabletop, a movable head-rest which is adjustable both vertically and laterally, vertically-adj ustabLe legs or standards under each end of 11o said .table-top attached thereto by substantially gimbaljoints, and adjustable feet on said legs or' standards, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with an adjustable embalming-table top, straps provided with hooks b', adapted to be-hooked under the lower edges of the tabletop frame and buckled over a body placed thereon, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with an adjustable embalming-tableLa laterally and vertically adjustable head-rest, substantially as shown, provided with a head-retaining strap, substantially as shown, adapted to retain and adjust/the head of a body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. l

5. In combination with an embalming-table, an interchangeable head-rest, one portion of which may be used for retaining and adjusting the head of p a body in any required and with pivoted feet, substantially as and for position while being treated, and the other the purpose setlforth. K y 1o portion as a pillow for supporting the head In testimony whereof I affix my signature aft-er treatment, substantially as shown and in presence of two witnesses. 5 set forth. GEORGE P. GASTON.

6. In combination with an adjustable em- Witnesses: balming-table top, folding legs` or standards GEO. E. BARBOUR,` therefor provided both With laterally-sliding S. U. NEWTON. 

